A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews it really helps to encourage me to write faster HINT, HINT, HINT Will Elijah finally get a chance to ask Elena permission to start a courtship with her? Maybe. Is there any kissing? Perhaps. Do this chapter end with a cliffhanger? What do you think? Please leave a review!
December 16, 998
Ayana's Dwelling
Rebekah's head swiveled from Elena to the door and then right back to her friend. An emotion flashed so quickly behind those blue eyes that Elena wondered if she had only imagined it.
"Hello Elena?" Tatia called again through the door.
Now it was Elena's turn to mimic Rebekah's head movement. She wanted to open the door and see what her cousin wanted. As the days had turned into weeks, it had become easier for the both of them to move from pretending to be cousins to feeling as if they were actually cousins in their new reality. So far it hadn't caused too many problems and people in the village, thanks to the modified memories of the newest settlers, had helped in that regard. Still, Elena could never have understood the latent animosity that existed between the two girls. After Tatia had gotten married, she had tried to make amends, but for whatever reason Rebekah had rebuffed all of Tatia's attempts to have some sort of reconciliation.
Elena was about to speak when Rebekah collected her jar and made to leave.
"Wait! Bekah, I don't want you to leave. Just let me hear whatever my cousin has to say and then we can continue. Okay?"
"Ella, that won't be necessary," she made to leave again, but Elena stopped her with a friendly hand on her shoulder.
"Bekah Please!" Elena pleaded, giving her friend the look Caroline had once likened it to being a concealed weapon. "My cousin wouldn't be here if it wasn't important."
"Alright I'll stay for now, but I'm doing this for you Ella. Not her understand?." Rebekah retorted.
"I understand Bekah," she reassured.
With nothing else to be said between either of them, Elena volunteered to open the door and allow Tatia inside. Asking Rebekah to open the door even though she'd be closer between them would have been asking for too much, Elena knew. Opening the door, she allowed her would-be cousin to slip through before closing it once more.
Married life suited Tatia very well. In the short time she had come to know her ancestor, Elena knew that Tatia truly did love her husband; and from what she had seen of them on the return leg of their trip from the outpost and their interactions afterwards, Lodur was a good, loving person and Elena was happy for her. When she had first heard about the arranged marriage, she bristled at the mere idea. But the pairing of Tatia and Lodur had so far proven to be a good match.
"Hello Tatia, you're looking well," Elena offered. She'd seen her about the village in the last few weeks, and they always took time to greet each other. Elena hadn't wanted to pry into how Tatia's was adjusting to married life so far, but there was something different about Tatia's overall appearance that seemed different. Not bad, in a way more mature and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Hello cousin, and hello to you too, Rebekah." Tatia responded. Rebekah didn't say anything, only nodding her head in silent greeting.
"Can I help you with anything, Tatia? Nothing is wrong, is there it's not something to do with Lodur?" Elena asked, her body acting on instinct started to prepare itself for whatever problem there was in their future.
"Lodur is fine, and I'm fine. No, that is not entirely truthful; in fact, I'm more than fine!" Tatia beams.
Feeling rather confused by Tatia's declaration, Elena couldn't resist glancing over at her other friend, who looked outwardly bored by their exchange. But she knew Rebekah better than that and could tell that she was listening as well. Rebekah, in fact, now almost seemed more openly hostile towards her would be cousin and that only added to Elena's growing confusion.
"I… I don't understand, Tatia?"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Ella, your cousin is pregnant!" Rebekah's voice cut in. Not without a touch of venomous undercurrents intertwined in her declaration.
"Tatia?" Elena asked. An otherwise needless gesture, but Tatia's reaction to Rebekah's sudden outburst only confirmed it for Elena. Once she'd finally taken note of the fact that for the short time they had been talking, for most of the entire time, Tatia had an almost protective hand over where her womb would be, as if the fetus might react poorly to the sudden increase in tension in the small dwelling.
"It's true Elena, I'm going to be a mother," Tatia confirmed vocally. And although Elena couldn't say why, she did appreciate the gesture. She opened her mouth, already ready to ask her next important question, when a cough from Rebekah broke her train of thought.
"Well, I guess congratulations are in order, Ella, and to you as well, Tatia. I would like to stay and hear more, but I'm afraid that I need to go help my mother finish preparing for our family supper." Bekah stated, then picked up the clay jar and turned to leave.
"Bekah wait!" Elena called reflectively, she didn't know why but she could tell something was bothering her friend.
Rebekah glanced over her shoulder and gave her a genuine smile directed solely towards her only.
"Ella, it's fine really. Besides, I have a feeling that we might be seeing more of each other in the near future anyway, so don't fret about it now," Rebekah stated. And not for the last time did Elena feel like she was missing something important. What the hell had she meant anyway, Elena couldn't help to ask herself.
"Okay then Bekah I will see you later."
Elena watched as her friend moved stiffly outside before closing the door behind her, leaving Elena and Tatia alone. Tatia sighed and moved to sit. Once she was settled Elena did the same.
"H… How far along are you and does Lodur even know yet?" Elena finally asked. She would've asked already if Rebekah hadn't interrupted.
"Well, according to Finn, I'm now six weeks along and no, I haven't told him yet. He's been too caught up in joining the village guard force. However, I will be revealing the good news to him tonight," Tatia exclaimed and Elena couldn't resist feeling a little envious of her ancestor. The implications that her child would become her ancestor were only now starting to settle into her thoughts.
It had been so long that she almost was having trouble recalling everything about the vampiric versions of the people she'd been growing closer to with each passing day. Both Elijah and Rebekah had indicated that Tatia had a child by the time they'd been turned by their mother. Still, it felt like such an odd experience to see this part of history playing out but now from a first hand experience for her. Intellectually she knew it had to happen or how else would she be standing there; but in her eighteen years of life, in the few short years she had to adjust to learning there was more going on in the world than most people in her time knew of, and that was both a good and bad thing.
"Wait, Tatia, why did you go see Finn? I would have figured that Ayana would've been your first choice?" Elena asked suddenly, still processing everything that had been said.
"I would've, but Ayana told me that she was going to be busy this morning talking with you."
Elena looked up and saw it in her ancestor's eyes she'd known, or perhaps at least suspected, and that only brought back her anger with respect to her own situation. But she needed to tamp that unproductive emotional outburst down. For the time being she had more immediate pressing matters. So it was a surprise when she found herself enfolded in Tatia's embrace. She felt tempted to pull free, but eventually settled into the comforting touch of a friend.
"I'm so sorry Elena, I only learned about this yesterday and even then it had been by accident. I really didn't think Ayana had expected me to show up unannounced in her Spellchamber." Tatia murmured into her braided hair.
"What do you mean? Exactly how did you accidentally find out that I can not ever go home ever again?" Elena demanded. To her own surprise, Tatia seemed somewhat taken aback by her loaded question. She had to remind herself again that Tatia was still her friend.
"Sorry Tatia, I didn't mean to snap at you like I've been just now. It's been a rather long day for me."
"I perfectly understand Elena, I would be upset if I were in your position now. But back to questions. I honestly thought you'd known by now, given the fact you've said that you are friends with a Bennett witch in your own time."
"Yes, her name is Bonnie, but what does this have to do-"
"Bennett witches have a rare for them family trait that gives them the sense of other spirits. That trait can be amplified in a specially prepared Spellchamber so she has the ability to communicate with them as well."
It still took Elena a moment to process what Tatia had just explained? It would answer a lot of her own questions, such as why Ayana seemed to prefer to work in her chamber than at home.
"Are these the same Spirits that brought me here or something else?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by 'Spirits'. Are you confusing them with something entirely else?" Tatia answered with a question of her own.
Like a light bulb going off, Elena realized her mistake, and she mentally kicked herself over the confusion. Did these people really have no concept of ghosts? It's entirely possible it had initially bothered her that only supernatural beings could become ghosts. She'd learned that when Jeremy had started to see Anna. The memory of seeing them in the Grill's restroom had been a shock, to say the least. It had been nice to see Stefan's friend Lexi again. She wished she had more time to talk but at the time they had more pressing issues. She would never admit to any of her friends at the time that she'd actually hoped to see her Aunt Jenna and even her biological mother Isobel at the time, but returning the ghosts back to where they now spent in existence had taken priority.
"You're right, Tatia, in my time spirits might sometimes be referred to as something else. I will explain later. But for now, what did you hear that made you come to understand my plight?" she asked instead. If Tatia was as bothered by the change back to the original issue, she gave no visible sign instead she started to describe what she partially witnessed.
Sometime later.
"So, I only heard part of the conversation from Ayana's perspective, but from what I could piece together, the Spirits of Nature seemed to want her to tell you the truth. Ayana didn't want to hurt you with the news, but they were insistent that you find out now." Tatia finished.
They sat in silence as they both considered everything they'd discussed so far. Tatia then excused herself, saying she needed to get home and finish getting dinner ready for her husband and extended family. It hadn't been too much of a shock to find out from her magically acquired memories that Lodur had two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother who'd decided to travel to the new world together.
Elena was now finally alone with her thoughts and didn't notice how much time had passed until she was rudely interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Elena, may I come in?
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December 16, 998
Mikaelson's Longhouse
Elijah stepped into his family home, which had been theirs from as far back as he could remember. His father Mikael had insisted on constructing a Longhouse large enough to accommodate at least a dozen of his offspring and eventually their wives and in his sister's circumstance as a husband, but that was only if the season prevented any new construction of new housing.
Being the second eldest, having now reached his twenty-first winter, he and his older brother Finn were afforded the privilege of actually using their respective rooms that until now had either been used for storage or were simply vacant. Elijah had only been residing in his room for three years now. He smiled at the memory of him officially moving his belongings into it after being given permission to do so by his father.
Naturally, his parents had the biggest room reserved for themselves, and access was only granted on rare occasions. Everyone else slept in the great hall, which only made sense with the overall layout of their home.
As he expected, his mother was busy preparing their evening meal and other than his brother Finn, who was most likely in his room practicing his magic. It appeared the home was vacant at first glance. He trusted that even if Finn accidentally overheard what he wanted to ask their mother about, he would understand. Kol, on the other hand, would find it hilarious that his older brother needed any sort of advice.
"Hello, mother." Elijah greeted.
"Elijah, back so soon?" Esther asked. Elijah had long suspected that his mother knew more about what her children were doing than she let on. Having a powerful witch for a mother tended to skew a person's viewpoint on such things. He'd deduced that long before reaching his teens.
"Um… Yes mother, I believe that I need to seek some advice on how best to broach my desire to start a courtship with Elena Petrova. If you have the time, that is?" he stated firmly. His mother was like her husband in that they much preferred the direct approach.
"What do you think it is that stops you from asking her about what you seek?" Esther asked finally, after setting aside the pot of venison stew she'd been preparing for her family.
Elijah considered that the one thing which was stopping him was something deep inside that he'd buried. "Mother, forgive me, but I know its fear. Fear that Elena Petrova will reject my desire to start a courtship with her."
"Well, Elijah, you'd have your answer then, wouldn't you?"
"Mother-"
"Elijah. If she says no to your advances, then you'd have two possible choices: either move on or claim her regardless of her rejection. I'd recommend not doing the latter because doing so would only tarnish our family name."
"I would never do such a thing to our family, Mother!"
"Then that leaves you only one path to choose if she declines your offer, but she hasn't yet rejected it," she paused, looking thoughtfully at her second eldest child. "Besides, I've heard that you and she get along in the few times you've both encountered each other in the village, is that not true?"
"It's true," he confirmed with a subtle nod.
"Elijah, I chose not to ask this question when you first asked permission from your father and I. But I feel compelled to do so now. Are you only doing this because she looks like a slightly older Tatia and you were upset that she was unknowingly betrothed to someone else?" she asked earnestly.
Elijah's shock was an evident event to his mother. His mouth snapped open to protest, but the analytical side of his brain took over the reins of his body as he carefully considered his mother's question more thoroughly. Yes, both he and his younger brother had been interested in Tatia. Niklaus had even argued that he was the better choice, since the age gap between him and Tatia was less than it would be for himself. Then Tatia had told them what she found out from Ayana that her father had arranged a marriage with a good man back in the old country. Needless to say, both he and Niklaus were devastated. So at least for him that was the end. Then came the fateful day Elena Petrova literally fell into his arms.
"At first I was hurt that Tatia was promised to someone other than myself, but then I met Elena. While she and her cousin could almost be identical siblings, their age difference notwithstanding, there is a gulf of differences between the two Petrova cousins."
"Oh! Would you perhaps care to elaborate on these differences?" his mother asked in an amused tone.
"While they are both kind souls, Elena's compassion for others is far greater. I've seen how she treats others in the village, always willing to help. Even though they know she lives with a witch her friends she had met on the voyage from the old world, Adric and his daughter Romana adore her and at least in my presence have never said anything ill against her. I could go on and on, Mother. She is brave and smart. This woman has captured my heart and soul. At least for me that is more than enough reason to try to pursue a formal courtship with her."
Esther smiled at her son and took his hands into hers.
"Thank you Elijah for sharing that with me I know of all my children you reserve yourself more than the others. I believe that you have your answer. You only need to ask her and let the Spirits of Nature intervene on both of yours behalf."
"I still need to ask her," he said pointedly. Causing Esther to sigh. The pleasant aroma of the venison stew she'd been preparing for her family's evening meal wafted through the space between them. She studied the contents of the cast-iron pot before looking over the other dishes both she and Rebekah had prepared earlier. A slow smile started across her features as she returned her attention back to her now curious son.
"If you wish for her to join our family, then probably the best way of showing how we are would be to invite her to share our evening meal tonight. Wouldn't you agree?"
Dumbfounded, Elijah almost asked if his mother was joking, but his mother would never do anything of the sort. Sharing a meal with anyone outside the family is a rare occasion, and what his own mother was suggesting could mean a lot of things. Excitement swelled in his core, his stoic mask still in place as he felt a need to ask another question.
"What about Ayana?"
His mother's knowing smile never faltered as she dismissed his question about Elena's would be guardian.
"Don't worry about my mentor I will send word that Elena has been invited to share a meal with us. I would suggest you go invite her unless you don't want to, that is?" She added.
Unable to control himself, he kissed his mother's cheek and hurried outside, leaving his mother smiling at his retreating form. On this one occasion, she didn't feel the need to call him back to shut the door to their home.
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December 16, 998
Ayana's Dwelling
"Elena, may I come in?" A voice called from outside. Elena was too distracted to recognize the otherwise familiar timber of the voice on the other side of the door.
Elena groaned inwardly as she stood, stretching her stiff back, and then walked over to the door. This morning had held so much promise, Elena reflected. Her hopeful journal entry for this morning was now like bitter ashes on her tongue. She could only imagine what her next entry will be, but she had already decided not to write in it for a few days, both from a practical standpoint. She only had so much parchment in her journal to write on, and while she could get more, it would take time to produce. Buying a ream of paper was simply not possible, just one more modern convenience she was going to have to learn to live without. The temptation to add a follow on entry was great, but she wanted time to consider what she was going to put in it.
The Spirits of Nature, or whatever they called themselves, seem to have a vested interest in her and what she might do. After all, I'm supposedly a so called 'Child of Destiny' am I not? Just once I wish I could have an users guide to that and while we're on this particular topic how about one for being a stupid Doppelgänger too, she groused.
"Elena?" the voice called again.
"Just a damn minute, keep your pants on!" She called through the thick door as she slid the stubborn locking arm clear and swung the door wide.
"What do you… Oh… Elijah what-" Elena stammered, already well aware that she probably sounded stupid with the word vomit that spilled from her lips. She would have continued if she hadn't clapped her mouth shut. This man, both as an Original Vampire and as human, always affected her in ways that sent odd tingles up her spine. Stupid hormones!
Elijah stepped inside her home and looked about the small dwelling, as if appraising its appearance. One of her chores was to keep it clean, which she did the best she could with the means she had available to her in this primitive world which was now her home as well.
"I'm so sorry Elijah, I must have sounded like a jabbering fool just now. Would you care to sit?" she managed to get out, indicating the vacant chair next to hers near the table she so often shared her meal with Ayana. It was strange that Ayana hadn't shown up to help prepare their meal together. They usually ate simply normal cheese and bread with maybe a soup. But she'd been so distracted throughout the day she hadn't started it, and she felt guilty for not doing her part. Yes, Ayana had withheld information concerning herself from her, but she still thought very highly of the witch.
"Not at all lovely Elena," her name coming from his lips made her feel strange inside and she quite liked it, she realized. "Of course, I'm rather confused as to why I wouldn't have my pants on, as you'd suggested before opening your door," he continued, which only made the blush she felt in her cheeks grow in intensity.
"Umm… You heard that? I must have sounded rather foolish," she asked rather sheepishly.
"I did, and no, I don't think so. I would never lie to you do you believe me?"
His question replaced her worried expression with a smile as she remembered her interactions with him in her former past. Out of habit she wrapped her arms around her midsection, momentarily lost in thoughts of her past life. Shaking herself out of her stupor, she looked at the man that had betrayed her, but in retrospect she didn't blame him. She'd learned about it after waking up after the sacrifice. From her friends, who all were more than willing to kill Elijah if they ever encountered him again. Knowing that and after pressing them for more information as to his reason for not killing Klaus, which they only grudgingly gave her. By then she knew the truth and while she felt betrayed, she'd done the exact same thing as if she'd been in his place. He had only wanted to seek revenge against his brother for what he'd supposedly done to their siblings.
"I do believe you Elijah. So… Umm… What brings you to my home? If you're looking for Ayana, I haven't seen Ayana yet since earlier," Elena looked away towards the herth that was now only putting out a small amount of heat. If she was going to start dinner soon she would need to stoke the fire.
"I feel bad, I was somewhat distracted earlier and I haven't had a chance to start on the soup we usually prepare," Elena noticed the set of his mouth and wondered if she'd missed something.
"So if I don't start now, we are going to have a rather late evening meal," she explained.
"I don't think that will be necessary, lovely Elena. My mother and I would like to invite you over to share our evening meal together."
"But Ayana-" Elena tried to protest but having Elijah in such proximity was rather distracting at the moment and the odd twitching sensation in her concealed dress pocket was too. If it wasn't so persistent, she might have ignored it.
"Excuse me, Elijah," she said, ignoring the odd expression he was giving her. Elena reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of parchment. Not giving him an explanation yet, she wordlessly unfolded it and read the next message. She sighed and pulled out from a smaller pocket a quill pen and a stoppered bottle of ink. She quickly wrote a brief reply and returned her pen and ink back from where they had come.
"Lovely Elena what are you doing?"
"It's called a chat parchment. It was a failed idea for keeping in touch with some of my friends back in the old country," Elena explained. It was a partial lie. She had made a suggestion about her idea to Ayana in adapting twenty first technology concepts with magic. This charmed parchment and its twin were the result. She had gotten the idea just after getting Bonnie's message all those weeks ago. It worked but had some limitations. Still it proved useful at times.
"A chat parchment? I've never heard of such a thing? So what does it do and what has made it such a failure that you can't use it?" Elijah asked curiously, edging closer to get a better look at the parchment.
She turned it so he could get a better look. "It allows two way communication between two people, but there are two major limitations that make its use somewhat impractical, at least in my particular circumstance."
"How so?"
"A spell only stays in effect as long as there is unmarked parchment below the previous message. Once there is no more room the spell work collapses, rendering the paper inert."
"Remarkable! You mentioned two flaws. I suspect that this is one aspect that you consider a failure. What is the other?"
"This is the second reason, and it will be obvious once I describe it. This parchment has a twin parchment that is magically linked to, but in order to create them the two owners of the soon to be twined parchments must be physically present and a small amount of their blood exchanged to bind the spell in place. We were going to make a pairing for Tatia and I too, but Ayana had drained herself too much that day," Elena explained. It was mostly true; the only lie she had made was to cover the fact that they'd only needed her Doppelgänger blood to bind the spell work into place. She felt bad for lying to Elijah, but she'd promised never to reveal how potent she and Tatia's blood were.
Elijah studied the parchment, reading Ayana's last message, and even he couldn't resist the urge to laugh, which startled Elena deeply. She had never really seen him laugh before, and she found herself wanting to see him do it again. Ayana's message had been to the point and told her to go enjoy a home cooked meal at the Mikaelson's. Apparently Elena's cooking had barely improved since being thrust backwards in time. You'd think the Spirits of Nature would've been able to help with that aspect of herself before she berated the universe in general.
"Well Elena Petrova, would you like to join me and my family for dinner?" Elijah asked with just the barest hint of a sly grin.
"I would be honored, Elijah Mikaelson," she said, not bothering to hide her own grin.
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December 16, 998
Mikaelson's Longhouse
This was only the second time she had been inside the vaunted Mikaelson's home. While it wasn't one of the largest buildings constructed in their growing village, the craftsmanship and interior design were the envy of the entire community. Elena resisted a sudden urge to smile. The Salvatore Boarding house would put this place to shame, and that was without considering all the modern conveniences like indoor plumbing and electrical lighting. She was still getting used to working under candle or torch light when it became too dark to do otherwise. The only place that reminded Elena of electrical lighting was the strange, glowing crystalline structure in Ayana's spell chamber.
"Merry Meet Elena Petrova. I bid thee welcome in my and my husband's home," Esther formally greeted Elena once she finished with what previous task she'd been performing prior to Elijah and Elena's arrival.
"I greet you as well, Esther Mikaelson. I shall hold my hand while in your home." Elena returned the formal response. She'd thought it an odd way of saying that she wouldn't steal anything during her visit, but customs had to be observed.
"I thought since Ayana is busy, it would be nice to have you as a dinner guest for our evening meal. I hope you enjoy Venison stew it's an old family recipe of mine." Esther stated, moving to pick up some bowls from a nearby shelf. Elena reacted without really thinking since she was far closer to the shelf and picked up the wood bowls.
"Here let me help with this." Elena offered. The stunned expressions on both Elijah and Esther's faces were priceless. But she wouldn't stoop that far to blatantly point it out to them.
"Elena, dear, you're a guest in our home. So you shouldn't need to concern yourself with such matters." Esther stated, Elena could see that the older witch was struggling to understand why she'd done what wasn't the norm.
"I can do as you wish, Ma'am, but I feel I should at least help with setting the table for our evening meal, or even some other necessary task. As a guest I feel I'll be taking a portion of food that would've gone to one of your children or Jarl Mikaelson himself. It is the least I can do for the kindness you've shown me so far."
Elena wondered if she might have inadvertently displeased the matriarch of Mikaelson family by her veiled instance of helping, even though she was technically a quest. Whatever her worries had been before were quickly squashed by the warm smile Elijah's mother was extending towards her. She oddly felt like she had just passed some unplanned test of some kind.
"Well then Elena, if you insist I see no reason to complain. Please place them around the table and afterwards you can help Rebekah draw some more water from our cistern outside."
Having nothing else to say afterwards, Elena hurried to finish her task of setting out the bowls on the table before heading out to help Rebekah, which seemed to have surprised her friend. Working together they collected enough water to bring back inside. Elena quietly observed that Elijah had disappeared from sight when they'd returned.
"If you're looking for my brother, he's most likely in his room getting ready for dinner. The same goes for Finn." Rebekah answered when she noticed Elena looking about.
"Oh… Where are the remainder of your brothers?" Elena asked, half expecting to catch Kol ready to jump out and try scarring her or his sister.
"I have no idea what either Kol or Nik are up to right at the moment, but I would suspect that Henrik is playing with some of the other children. They'll come in once we get closer to dinner time," Rebekah was setting more items on the long table right then. Having nothing else to do, Elena started to help.
They had been working for only a few minutes when the door slammed open and rather muddy but otherwise cheerful Henrik came running in.
"Henrik Mikaelson! Go outside and clean yourself up this instant!" Esther said. It surprised Elena that she hadn't even raised her voice a single octave. The adolescent's smile faltered only slightly before he turned on his heel and promptly went outside to do as his mother had ordered him to do.
It wasn't long before all of them, including Elena seated next to Elijah, were waiting for the Patriarch to arrive. When he swept inside the room, he went to the head of the table and cast his gaze down the full length of the table before pausing on Elena. The look he gave her made Elena feel like she was a bug under a microscope. When she averted her eyes, she felt Elijah's body relax. Had she been challenging him, she wondered?
"Wife, I see we have a guest today. Have things progressed then?"
Progressed, what the hell did that mean? Elena wondered.
"Patience, my husband. Ayana is otherwise busy and Elijah and I both thought it would be nice to have her ward here with us for company," his wife soothed. Elena hazarded a glance and relaxed. Esther's words with him must have calmed the would-be tyrant down enough that he was amicable for most of the meal, which was amazing. The stew, which was the result of one of Elijah's successful hunting trips, flavored the broth quite pleasantly. They made small talk amongst themselves. Elijah mentioned Elena's chat parchment to his older brother, who seemed fascinated by the concept, as did their mother.
"I will need to talk to Ayana about this. May I ask how or why you came up with this idea of yours?" Esther asked.
Elena didn't want to explain the whole story again, so she did her best to give the cliff notes version and promised to talk to Ayana about it the next time she saw the witch. To her surprise and annoyance it was her friend Rebekah that started a new topic. Privately she knew she really needed to talk to her about respecting others' privacy especially when it doesn't really concern themselves.
"This afternoon Elena and I learned that Tatia and Lodur are expecting their first child." Elena wanted to reach over a throttle with her friend, but that probably wouldn't be well received.
Of course Rebekah's revelation of her supposed cousin's pregnancy hadn't been missed by the now crestfallen Klaus or that of his sneering father.
"Boy, quit your pinning for another man's woman. Lodur is twice the man you'll ever be."
The awkward silence that followed was almost unbearable so Elena wasn't sure if Kol was trying to break the tension or just being an ass when he decided to bring up another subject. This one caused her to choke on the ale she'd been drinking at the time.
"So Elena, now that Elijah and you are now courting, when do you think you'll get married?" Kol asked innocently. Choking on the ale, she briefly wondered if Rebekah's plan might suddenly have more merit than she realized. But his words were finally sinking into her brain right about the same time she was picturing a very bald Kol.
"Courtship… Married? Elijah?" Elena coughed. Her eyes were wild with disbelief. She knew that they had been growing closer, but she hadn't realized that he wanted to marry her.
Acting quickly, Elijah stood them both up, glaring daggers at his younger brother,and asked permission to take Elena into his room to discuss this with some modicum of privacy. They both quickly retired to his room after receiving permission. Elena was sitting on his large bed, which she absently noted was big enough for two. Get your mind out of the gutter Elena Gilbert. Elijah Mikaelson has all but proposed to you and you're sitting here like a ninny!
"Elijah, do you have something to say to me?" she amazed herself with how calm she sounded.
"Lovely Elena, this is not how I wanted to bring up my desire to start a formal courtship with you, but what is done is done. I must apologize for my brother Kol and for my sister for sharing such a private matter about your cousin Tatia."
Elena had not wanted to discuss the five hundred pound gorilla in the room with the safer of the two. "I really don't think she and my cousin get along very well. I will try to smooth things over, don't worry about them," she looked over at Elijah, who stood a full six feet away.
"Elijah, please come here," she spoke so softly she wondered if he'd heard her. To her surprise, he was kneeling in front of her, holding her cheeks in his warm, strong hands.
"Elena, I was going to ask you on the way back to Ayana's place, but the fates intervened. From the moment you fell into my arms that day, I have been thinking of nothing else but you. You're an amazing, brave, smart, and compassionate woman I've ever met. When I met you earlier today, I was on my way to ask permission from Ayana if I could start a courtship with you."
"Wh… What did she say?"
"She said I would need to discuss it with you."
Elena's mind was reeling. She liked Elijah, and with the revelation she was now stuck in the past she didn't quite have to worry about a future over a thousand years from now. Could she do this, and would it have any effect on the timeline?
"If I said yes, how long do most courtships last? I mean I know how long they last from where I was born but-" she couldn't quite bring herself to finish. Elijah smiled at her, still holding her head the way he had from the start.
"Elena, if we decide to proceed then we would be married either late summer or fall, but it doesn't have to be. We could get married earlier or not at all. It is your choice."
Her choice: how many people in her life have given her that option? Not many. NO! That wasn't true, her Elijah the one she knew in the future had and granted things hadn't worked according to plan, but perhaps a simple negotiation was in order first with some minor concessions.
"Elijah, I'm not saying no and I'm not saying yes, but could I have the night to think about it?"
His emotions flashed too quickly for her to discern which one was winning, but finally he relaxed and smiled warmly at her.
"I think I can manage that if you are willing to concede to something for me first?"
"Are we negotiating, Elijah Mikaelson?" she teased.
"I believe we are, Elena Petrova," he chuckled.
"What is this concession you want from me?"
"Kiss me,"
Not needing to elaborate further, he leaned in and Elena did the same. She didn't recall closing her eyes, but she felt his soft lips press into her own and the world melted. It was tender yet filled with a passion that threatened to curl her toes. She didn't know if it was he or she that prompted the act, but the next time she came up for air, she found herself straddling him. Good God, this man can kiss. What else can he do? A very small but very vocal part of her brain demanded. Shut up!
"Wow!" It took Elena a moment to realize that it had been she who uttered that profound single word and for once she didn't feel bothered by it.
"Umm… As much as I like how things might be progressing I think it's getting rather late and I would like for you to get a good night's sleep before tomorrow."
Elena, still feeling out of sorts vaguely remembered, agreed with him and walked back to her and Ayana's place. She'd recall later holding his hand the entire way home, but it was when she was inside and he on his way back to his home that it hit her. She had just kissed Elijah Mikaelson and loved it. She was so lost in her thoughts she hadn't realized that she was not alone and whoever it was in her home was standing behind her.
She felt the coarse cloth sack being tossed over her head and a very strong arm wrap around her, placing her in a choke hold. She knew how to get out of them thanks to Ric, but she was out of practice. As she was losing the last vestiges of consciousness, she heard a voice that she never wanted to hear again.
"Hello my Elena, did you miss me?" she heard him ask through the cloth before finally passing out. Her last coherent thoughts were of a single name and a plea. Elijah Help!
